The outflow of expertise and increasing competition from low-wage countries are perhaps the biggest challenges facing the manufacturing industry. At the same time, there is a growing demand for customised solutions that are engineered and produced at mass production prices. EPLAN and Rittal have perfectly coordinated their products, software and services so you can combat these challenges which leverage the opportunities created by Industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things (IOT). 

By combining tools and knowledge which have been developed over the last 50 years, sister companies EPLAN and Rittal who are part of the owner-operated Friedhelm Loh Group,  give companies the opportunity to optimise and industrialise all their panel building and switchgear manufacturing processes, by helping you to forge the islands of engineering, panel design and production into a flexible and efficient whole. This is a value chain, a business model which describes the full range of activities needed to create a product or service. The overarching goal of a value chain is to deliver the most value for the least cost in order to create competitive advantage. 

  Engineering     

The leading engineering software from EPLAN is perfect for optimal, fully digitised product development processes. Crucial process steps in engineering, panel design and production are brought together in one software platform and can be carried out in parallel. At the heart of it all is the digital twin, a 3D digital replica of the control cabinet created in EPLAN Pro Panel within the engineering stage which uses seamless data to link together all value creation processes - from electrical engineering through to service. 

  Sourcing  

Modern CAE systems are not isolated solutions. Data from the digital twin created in engineering can also be accessed during commercial processes and can be connected to ERP systems which makes it possible to transfer automatically generated bills of materials (BOM's) for quotations and material procurement. Ideally an engineering solution should therefore not only include standardised interfaces to market leading ERP, PDM and PLM systems, but also tools for individual integration of engineering software into the IT infrastructure. 

EPLAN has many bi-directional interfaces with leading solution providers to ensure transparency in your product development process, these include Siemens Team Center, SAP ECTR, PRO.File, PTC Windchill, and more. 

  Manufacturing                                             

Manufacturing is the area in which the largest time savings can be achieved. A comprehensive portfolio of solutions from EPLAN and Rittal supports all steps in the manufacturing process. The data from the 3D digital twin which was created in the engineering stage enables a great many processes to be automated during this phase too, including:

• Panel machining
• Cable fabrication
• Wiring
• Cutting of cable ducts or support rails

Metalworking operations in the panel building sector, such as drilling mounting plates and making cut-outs in cabinets, have traditionally been carried out manually using hand tools. However, benefits accrue from embracing automation and the technologies which are already available. Having recently worked with 150 panel builders, we identified a time saving of 41% by introducing semi-automated working practices to existing manual workflows, with even further time savings possible by fully automating processes and workflows. 

   Operations

Many data enclosures and components such as climate control units are now equipped with sensors that generate a continuous flow of data. This data is used to offer service and energy management activities as required during ongoing operation, which improves the availability and efficiency of machinery and equipment.

With EPLAN, engineering projects are in the cloud. This means that the data generated and enriched in the engineering is available and transparent for all project stakeholders along the entire value chain – from engineering to manufacturing and assembly through to service and maintenance. EPLAN allows you to view and comment on changes using an internet browser from any location. The software easily and intuitively leads you through the redlining process with which you can view and comment on changes to the project. 

In addition, the Rittal systems feature several interfaces for communicating and transferring measurement data on variables such as electricity, voltage, power and efficiency.